Advanced skin analysis including ways to tell a person’s dietary habits, lifestyle, and ethnicity based on the appearance of their skin

Chemistry including molecular structure of ingredients, how products penetrate into the skin, and the importance of PH

In-depth knowledge of ingredients, giving you the ability to pick up any product and know exactly what is in it and for which skin type it is formulated

Machines for the face including galvanic, high frequency, face faradic, and lymphatic drainage

Manicuring and disorders of the nails

Eyelash and eyebrow tinting

Being a part of the CIDESCO program has given me valuable tools that I will carry with me through my entire career. It has allowed me to learn from seasoned estheticians who know all the secrets of the industry. It has given me the opportunity to travel and still be able to do what I love. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in esthetics.

I participated in Celebration (aka my graduation). I didn’t think too much about it at time but, looking back and reflecting on the event, I’m so glad I participated in it.

I used my four-year-old son as my model and turned him into a ’50s psychobilly-esque dude. He strutted his stuff down a make-shift runway and got a loud unexpected roar of applause. I then sat him on my lap and listened to the speeches made by fellow soon-to-be graduates.

The types of relationships you build here at Cinta Aveda Institute amaze me. A lot of people go into professional programs with a one-track mind: get in, get out, get a job. You never anticipate the connections you unknowingly make.

The tight-knit community of beauty artists is a very special one. It’s as if there’s this unspoken bond. We all know we’re doing what we do not just to pay the bills but because we love our craft. We all know we have one of the best professions because we remain passionate about our work through our lifetime. I realized this during Celebration. You can tell you’ve joined a great profession when the people you’re supposed to be competing against for jobs are standing right next to you, cheering you on!

Esthiology derives from the idea of helping others express their inner beauty within themselves. I find beauty in helping others discover their own beauty. In the future, I plan to help skin cancer and burn victims find their outer physical beauty by introducing them to botanical healthy products and encouraging a healthy lifestyle to rehabilitate their skin. It’s not easy to be an esthetician; there’s plenty of hard work and dedication with little pay out in the beginning. You can work on multiple clients a day and feel as if no outcome is a given. However, soon you’ll find that your work is making an impact, and you’ll realize that you have the potential to aid people and really help them have healthier skin.

As a future esthetician, my goal is to deliver my knowledge of products and skin care to give someone a healthier skincare lifestyle. After attending Cinta Aveda Institute, my ability to treat and heal has increased exponentially. I now have the confidence to change an individual’s lifestyle as well as my own. Cinta Aveda Institute entrusted me with the knowledge to support my path to reaching out to those in need and aiding them into finding their inner and outer beauty.

My longer term goal is directed towards helping burn victims and giving them a chance to relocate themselves mentally and show them that their physical wounds do not matter to their true beauty. Practicing as an esthetician means a whole lot to me, and I plan on working rigorously to achieve my goals of helping others.

San Francisco is known for their art and culture. Growing up in this amazing city has always inspired me to be creative. I used to do my own hair and my sister’s hair as a teenager. I did everything from bang trims and cute pixie cuts to coloring and bleaching. It has always been an underlying passion.

Choosing to start my journey and go to the Cinta Aveda Institute has been one of the hardest and most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made in my life. I was nervous to take the plunge into something new and exciting, but I was frightened of being too old, not good enough, or even the possibility of failing.

On the first day of school, all those fears disappeared. There are students of all different backgrounds and ages trying to achieve the same goal—to learn. The teachers are really helpful and not intimidating at all; they seem like they really want to help you become successful. The staff really cares and values students opinions and views of what is going on around us.

This school amazes me every day with the education and outline of each phase. The curriculum is always changing and being updated for the benefit of its students. And the fact that it’s in the heart of downtown San Francisco is a big plus! I’m really happy with my decision to come to this school and am very excited for what comes next in my future.

At the Cinta Aveda Institute, I’ve had the privilege to get to know and bond with my educators.

Every single one of them has made my experience here one to remember. They make me laugh constantly and always show me what a community should look like.

Being so comfortable with my educators has made it an experience of ease and warmth. I’m not afraid to ask them questions, or express any type of concern, because they come back to me with honesty and the uttermost care towards my concern. That was one thing I felt deeply when I came to this school; I never felt shame or embarrassment when I asked a question, even if i knew it might be nonsensical.

Educators at the Cinta Aveda Institute are mentors in this industry, constantly displaying different approaches to skin care and technical matters. I’ve learned from them that the skin care industry is neither black nor white—there are many shades of gray and variations on how to do things. Each has their own techniques or opinions about certain products or treatments.

I’m excited to see what they have in store to teach me. Each of them has their own distinct characteristics that make enliven every class. I’m very grateful for these wonderful people who have enriched my journey here. I only hope to carry forward these many attributes to upcoming estheticians.

One thing I have taken from them is to approach skin with different alternatives. Every client has multiple options available to them; and, with the many mentors I’ve had, I can properly advise them.

Starting a new career can be scary or intimidating, but the opportunities far outweigh the risk. In the beauty and fashion industry, the sky is the limit and, with the right mindset, hard work, and passion for the craft, dreams can come true.

At the Cinta Aveda Institute, we firmly believe that our students have all the opportunity in the world, and if they follow the process, they will succeed. We love hearing success stories and how people have achieved their dreams, so we sat down with Rocky Boyle, Mentor Stylist at Cinta Salon to find out what inspires and drives her.

What made you decide to go to cosmetology school?

My inspiration for school was my mother’s best friend. We used to hang out in her salon all of the time in my hometown.

Where did you go to school?

I went to Miss Marty’s School of Beauty & Hairstyling here in San Francisco. Beauty school was something I had always wanted to do but, in my twenties, I was too immature and more worries about having a good time. So, when I moved to San Francisco, I cleaned up my act and decided I wanted something better for my life. My husband and I bought our condo around the corner from Miss Marty’s, so I took this as a sign! At that point, I was now 30 and felt ready to take on the responsibility to pursue a career as a hair stylist. I enrolled within the month and off I went.

Do/did you have any mentors or important people who have had a hand in your success?

While in cosmetology school, I met my mentor and hero, Cinta Gibbons. She was very generous with advice on how to pick the right salon for you. Cinta advised to intern at as many places you can and ask many questions about the assisting program.

One thing she said that always resonated with me was, “There is a salon for everyone, and not everyone is right for every salon. Choose wisely where you train because it will set the foundation of the stylist you’re going to be.”

What were some of your assistant jobs?

Of course, I ran straight to Cinta Salon as soon as I received my license. I assisted for about 2 years before becoming a Stylist. I know it seems like a long, huge time investment, but it was the best investment that I have ever made in my future. Assisting teaches you the technical skills, timing, and culture of the salon, which helps you decide if it’s the right place to pursue your career. I highly recommend it!

What do you think has made you successful?

After all the training and 11 years at Cinta Salon, I love that I get to pass what I have learned to the newcomers while focusing on being the best hairstylist that I can be.

I definitely attribute my accomplishments to education. Any time you have the opportunity to take classes, do it! It is one of my favorite things about our industry. Whether I get to be a teacher or be the student I feel we owe it to our guests to always put our best foot forward.

Everything I have learned to this point I owe to my own mentors, Arvin, Sara, Jackie, Dympna, and, of course, Cinta. Thank you for making me the stylist and person I am today.

What advice do you have for students who are looking to move up in the beauty industry?

My best piece of advice to not just aspiring professionals, but to all stylists: Education, education, education! Be a sponge and soak it all in—you’ll never regret having more knowledge.

I had the privilege of getting to know and to bond with my educators at the Cinta Aveda Institute. Every single one of them has made my experience one to remember. They make me laugh constantly and always show me what a community should look like.

Being so comfortable with my educators has made my time at the Institute an experience of ease and warmth. I’m not afraid to ask them questions or express any type of concern because they will respond with only honesty and uttermost care. I’ve felt this deeply at the Cinta Aveda Institute; I felt no shame or embarrassment when I asked a question, even if I knew it was nonsensical. Usually, there was some real question underlying my query which the educators could also answer.

These are the mentors in this industry. They constantly display different approaches to skin care and technical matters. I’ve learned from them that the skin care industry isn’t black and white, there are so many variations on how we do things. Everyone has their own techniques or opinions about certain skin products or treatments. I’m always excited to see what they have in store to teach me.

Each one of Cinta Aveda Institute’s educators has their own distinct characteristics; class is never boring. I’m very grateful for these wonderful people who have enriched my journey here. I only hope to pay my education forward to upcoming estheticians.

The last phase in the cosmetology program is bittersweet. You’ve overcome struggles, learned more than just a thing or two, and have made friends over the thirteen-month-long program. Now are you ready to go out into the professional world? What’s next?

Cinta Aveda Institute has many opportunities to help aspiring hairstylists thrive and present their work to the public. There’s the Trashion Show, Career Day or Creative Team projects. They also help students find jobs in salons around the Bay Area.

Putting yourself out there, being passionate about what you do, and keeping an open mind help to achieve a successful career. Many students inspire others via social media such as Instagram or Facebook. This is a great way to spread the word that you’re ambitious and approachable for possible side projects, photoshoots, or weddings where hair and makeup services might be needed. Even if you’re not being compensated for certain activities outside of school, getting your feet wet helps you to become better and more comfortable working in the field. You’ll definitely come away with tips and tricks you can use for the future.

Settling into an assistant program in a salon is beneficial. One might not need to start assisting at the very beginning of their program however, towards gamma, it always helps to have yourself already settled in somewhere you enjoy working, getting a feel for salon life, and having a potential job lined up.

Thirteen months sounds like a long time, but it goes by in a flash! Being confident, eager to learn, and being a bit humble starting out in the industry is a sure way to a long and happy career full of opportunities.

I signed up for school at what could be deemed the worst time I could possibly have chosen or maybe it was the perfect time; glass half full or half empty. For me, it turned out to be the perfect time.

My class became my family, my educators became my mentors, and the experience has changed my life. There were days where life didn’t agree with my schedule, and moments where I thought it was all just too much to handle. But I’ve also been surrounded by people to whom I genuinely say “I love you,” and deeply miss them when we aren’t together in class. Everyone has had an huge effect on my life and my heart, and I’ll treasure every moment spent with them.

When I’m asked about my experience in the esthiology program and what I think of the school, it’s more than just saying it’s great! To me, it has also been an amazing journey. I’ve learned more than I thought my brain could possibly retain, and I’ve gained strength in areas where I didn’t know I was lacking.

Prepared for the industry, ready to live, inspired for life. Thank you, Cinta Aveda Institute!

On the day of the Trashion show, I was asked to render assistance to the makeup team. I had never done makeup for this type of thing, so this was new, distressing, and exciting to me! Although it was my first time, the creative team leads made sure that we were comfortable. There was music blasting, sugar present, and lots of great vibes. The model I worked on was so sweet. He made my job super easy. I was laughing most of the time that I worked on his makeup.

Each time I’ve come out to assist the teams, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the wonderful attitudes, happy faces, and creative fingers moving. In the esthetician program, I rarely get a chance to talk with other students working towards different goals at Cinta Aveda Institute. I love the opportunity to meet new people and learn various techniques. And it’s quite remarkable to see all of the talent that the students as well as the faculty possess bringing art to life.

This was a great opportunity to work with others and test my personal limits. Thank you Cinta Aveda Institute for providing me the creative space to thrive! Can’t wait to see what we’ll do next!

I’ve always been someone who starts things but never finishes them. I’ve always been someone who gets bored easily. I’ve always been someone who procrastinates.

School wasn’t an easy choice for me. I’ve moved around a lot over the last couple years just going with the flow of things. When I decided to check out Cinta Aveda Institute, something clicked for me. I felt so welcomed by everyone. All my questions were answered and everything seemed straight to the point. The students seemed so happy to here and super eager to learn. The staff had big smiles on their faces and I knew I belonged here. I wanted to belong here.

I’ve had the most awesome time in school. I’ve met some amazing people and got the best education that I deserve. Intro was great and moving onto the alpha phase was even better. I enjoyed coming to class everyday because of how inspired I felt, day in and day out. Now I can’t wait to get out into the real world and apply my skills.

I’m proud to say now I’ve accomplished something and am about to finish what I started. Now I’m excited about becoming an Esthetician. And Now I’m a dreamer with tons of goals and so many ambitions.

School can be an incredibly grueling time where you can’t find much time for yourself. All of us who have gone through the beauty school process understand how you feel! Balancing school, work, and a social life can be almost intimidating. There are a few sweet little things you can do to rest your mind and your body and keep yourself balanced.

After a long day at school, go home and take a bath with a bath bomb. Not only will this relax your muscles but it will help you unwind so you can sleep better.

Use tea bag compresses to keep the area under your eyes from looking tired. I like to take two green tea bags and make a cup of tea. Take out the tea bags, squeeze out the excess water, and put them in the fridge for ten minutes, and enjoy your tea while you wait. Once they’ve cooled down, apply them to your under eye area for 10 to 15 minutes. Your under eyes will seriously thank you.

Cinta Aveda is an exclusive beauty school located right in the heart of San Francisco-the Financial District at Bush and Kearney, near the mouth of Chinatown and the well-known hustling and bustling Market street where most Muni lines and the light rail passes. There’s a Bart station just a few blocks away. Coming into the city via car? No problem! There are close parking garages including the Sutter-Stockton garage.

Some cosmetology schools experience low foot traffic so students don’t have the advantage of working with guests, but rather on their doll heads (mannequin heads) or on each other during their year long program. But luckily the Cinta Aveda Institute is so centrally located in a very heavy foot traffic zone, that students may be booked by up to five guests a day! How so? The building stands on a busy corner where the Aveda retail center invites tourists, locals, and even business people who work around the corner to come in for a quick touch up service at the salon, or perhaps a nice long massage, or a relaxing facial to freshen up and then head out to continue on with their day.

Great news for students, staff, and future guests: the Institute has expanded! The corner of Bush and Kearney, that used to be a restaurant, has been transformed to accommodate another student salon and a larger retail space. The new windows provide a clear view into the salon as guests are being served, an ability to see how students interact, and the beautiful work they create. It feels like a high-end salon. This is also inspiring to aspiring hairstylists that desire to further their career in the beauty industry.

In any case, the beauty industry is about being personable, flexible, and adaptable. With the many guests that come in and out of our doors, Cinta Aveda has gotten quite a lot of attention. Congrats to Cinta, and the amazing educators and students attending Cinta Aveda who have created a wonderful atmosphere to learn, grow, and become professionals in the beauty industry!

After the general Intro and our Esthetician course, we all wanted to know what would come next? Had we actually made the right decision?

The first day of the CIDESCO program, everybody was sitting quietly, with mixed feelings; a little bit scared but, at the same time, excited about the future. I didn’t know what to expect and I was scared. On the other hand, the last few months had not been easy for me either. For me, had it really been worth it to move to this different country, where I barely knew anybody, to start a completely new life from scratch?

Beginning my CIDESCO Program and meeting my new Teacher meant a lot to me. And there she was, crossing the room—a little person with beautiful golden curly hair and a great aura telling us straight in the eyes, “My course will not be easy guys. I’m Christy and you better learn, learn, learn…” She has both style and beauty. And she shines inside and out with her beautiful jewelry.

A deep silence fell in the classroom and her eyes started probing deep into our souls. Then I knew a whole different journey was about to start!

The next days, weeks, and months have been amazing—pure wellness for my mind and for my soul. Knowledge has begun to grow in me like in a hungry dog: I never stop asking questions and every day become more aware of the amazing teacher we have in front of us. She is not just a teacher she is a inspiration.

Christy gives us all of her knowledge, experience, comfort, straightness, and clarity, leaving no question without a good answer. She has opened an entire world to me, a world made of inspirational words and choices. She is somewhere between a kind mother and a severe father, always willing to listen to what we have to say and give us good advice.

She was our meditation in the morning and our anatomy in the afternoon.

I have to thank Christy for all of this and more, for letting me be inspired every day by the beauty industry, for letting me see the future with openness and clearness, and for helping me fall completely in love with the CIDESCO program. I know now, for sure, that I made the best choice for my career.

A teacher is not only a teacher, but is a mentor. She will always be part of your life and will stay in your memories forever.

It is somebody who activates something in you—an energy that keeps you expanding your knowledge and inspires you to do, and be, your best.

When I first came to Cinta Aveda Institute, to me it was just another school. Now that I’ve been here and have done more research, I have a genuine love and respect for this place. I love how Cinta Aveda is so passionate about the world we live in and about the ways we can come together to help make it a better place. From the products we use to the different fundraisers we do to help give back to our environment, Cinta Aveda cares.

This month at Cinta Aveda is Earth Month. We partnered with the Clean Water Fund to help keep our local waterways clean and sustainable for future generations. I think this is just amazing for Cinta Aveda to be so generous with helping hands. Since 2009, Aveda has raised over $400,000 to protect clean water in Northern America. This has made me more aware of my water usage and has given me more of an interest to be more involved to really care about our environment and make a change.

Cinta Aveda is truly a wonderful Institute in more ways than one; I am proud to be a student here.

As I near graduation from Cinta Aveda Institute, I am beginning to explore the many options available to me once I complete my program. Once I pass my State Board Examination, I will officially be a licensed cosmetologist. What exactly does that mean? In a nutshell, the world is my oyster! As a cosmetology graduate, I can work in a salon, spa, blow dry bar, makeup counter, cruise ship, and much more! I can take private clients, work on photo shoots, participate in magazine editorials, and maybe even do some bridal styling. The possibilities truly are endless. In fact, some might say we have too many options. How do I figure out what is right for me?

Given that there are so many opportunities in our trade, it is important to explore each and every one. Immerse yourself in the industry and all of its components. Buy fashion magazines and take note of the hair and makeup in the editorial spreads. Try out different blow dry bars in your area. (Tip: you can always find a cheap deal on Groupon!) Talk to people who have been in the industry for a while, in different capacities. Those who own their own salon, or rent a chair in a salon versus stylists who are an employee of a salon and work on commission. Each situation yields a different experience, which may or may not be right for you. If you have a passion for travel, maybe working at the salon or spa on a cruise ship is the perfect opportunity for you.

The important thing to remember is be true to yourself, your talent, and your customer. Many people get caught up in what they think they should be doing as opposed to what is right for them, and as a result do not end up being prosperous. If you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work–you’ll never work a day in your life!

Many celebrities over the years have worn wigs, toupees, and hair extensions to accentuate a certain style, to wow their audience at an award ceremony, and to eliminate the long wait for hair to grow out naturally. Extensions are quick and easy; one can feel like Pamela Anderson running down the beach with wavy long locks of sexiness.

Extensions give instant gratification with longer, more luscious, and a fuller head of hair. We no longer have to accept the fact that our hair is too fine and flat to achieve the look we want or, perhaps, that our hair grows slower than others. The beauty industry today offers possibilities limited only by your imagination. Extensions are another tool of the trade to enhance one’s outer beauty. No need for countless medicines and magic remedies, a full head of extensions can be put in sometimes under less than 40 minutes and you can leave the salon feeling like a new person.

Balmain, an established well-known Parisian brand that started out in the 1940’s as a respected fashion house, has extended the brand, starting out with wigs and toupees as well as extensions as early as the 1960’s, evolving into what it is today: a glamorous haute couture clothing line as well as a distributer for 100% human hair originating from India and China serving celebrities and the girl next door. Where else than the famed Cinta Aveda Institute, located in the heart of San Francisco, to host a Balmain workshop?

At the Balmain extension class held at Cinta Aveda, Julie Johnson was the teacher. Julie is an entrepreneurial woman who has traveled all over the world. She visited Paris, France to meet with official representatives from Balmain where classes and demos are held, and went to Holland where the headquarters are located. There, she obtained the title of Master Trainer for the United States.

She began the class by informing us about the history of the brand as well as where the hair originates from and how her own business grew. Julie and her team then started demos on the different hair extensions that Balmain offers and what their purpose are; each client might need different systems to achieve the look they desire. Julie and her assistants checked in with each student as we learned about the brand and how to apply their line of extensions. Not only was it a fun class to attend, but it was empowering to know that we can always further our business if we are ambitious enough to succeed in the industry.

The class ended with everyone excited to start talking about extensions and hopefully start practicing what we learned, building a loyal clientele of extension “lifers”.

When you’re pressed for cash, head to the Cinta Aveda Institute. The city’s leading beauty school also has an entire program devoted to learning the art of barbering, where you can snag a $10 haircut including a stress-relieving head, neck and shoulder massage. Or a $5 express facial designed to cleanse and nourish the skin and reduce irritation caused by shaving. The school is state of the art with a clean—to the point of being almost clinical—vibe. It’s always bustling with people, and yet it’s easy to relax into your treatment. Note that sometimes services take longer than normal; your barber is most likely a student still learning how to perform the task.

While at an Aveda Concept Salon or an Aveda Institute, one can’t help but notice the allure of beauty and art all around. The Aveda style uniquely speaks of etheric images beckoning us to a moment of visual wellness.

Like a palette of nature’s colorful expressions, the subtle and bold vintage water color wash you from the moment you step in. You become excited and sun drenched. In other words, an experience at Aveda is an immersion into fine art.

As an Esti student I am often reminded that my education is not just about technique, application, and product knowledge. While those subjects set the foundation to build a life long professional career from, I believe the true essence of Aveda training and service is about creating art through bringing forth each guest’s individual beauty.

I have found that the “compliment sandwich” is a chance for me to share with my guests what makes them unique. To emphasize a person’s individual and personal assets, I sometimes mentally say to myself, “what makes this guest specifically beautiful?”

I have found that a sincere compliment really helps to ease a guest into their service. I believe this gives them a feeling of connection and lets the guest know that I see and I care about them.

A finishing touch of a lip or cheek color is another opportunity to introduce to the guest the Aveda allure, so when they step out of the experience center they feel as if they have experienced not only moments of wellness from their service but have participated in making the everyday into an expression of beauty and art.

I was transitioning from the Esthetician intro phase to the alpha phase, and it couldn’t be scarier, even though I felt pretty prepared when I left the intro phase.

The first day of being an alpha, I already had a client. What do I do?! Suddenly everything I had learned the last ten weeks went out the window. Elemental Nature? What’s that? To add more worry and stress, I realized that my first booked client was a male client! All I’ve been working on were female faces; I’m not ready for this! I was completing psyching myself out. Nobody noticed I was a nut case. Nope, I was cool as a cucumber on the outside. Internally, I wanted to melt and die.

The time came, and a huge part of me hoped the client canceled for some reason, any reason…please! But of course, Life likes to see you squirm. I saw my client standing at 6 feet 2 inches and the size difference did not play into the intimidating factor at all…Luckily, he was super nice and I performed the facial like I would normally, except massaged downward in the direction of the facial hair growth. I’m pretty sure I may have forgotten a step or two, but you have to be like Dory and “just keep swimming!”

Before I knew it, the facial ended, and I was so relieved! Excitement came over me because I did it! And I didn’t fall flat on my face. It really is not as terrifying as you anticipate it to be. After the facial, I discussed some of the beneficial products for his skin, and he ended up purchasing all of them! I felt such a glee after finishing my first client’s facial.

A few tips I would share would be to follow the facial steps as best as you can. If you don’t remember a step, just keep moving and perform the steps you DO remember. The client doesn’t know if anything went wrong unless you start acting like it is. Secondly, make sure to apply pressure and check the pressure with your client during the massages. Nobody likes to be lightly touched when he/she knows they’re coming in for a facial or massage. Lastly, be warm and friendly to your guest regardless of how you’re feeling. Check your issues at the door and put a smile on your face when you greet your guest. Good luck!

Categories

Recent Posts

Recent Posts

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in each of these blog posts are those of its author, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Cinta Aveda Institute, its principals, administrators, contractors, faculty, or students.

No representations of accuracy are made by the Institute as to any of the posts on this blog. The instructions and advice found here comes without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Consult with your own medical professional before taking advice or using a product that could affect your health.

Links to external resources or references to the products and services of others do not constitute an endorsement of the site, services, products, or content found therein. Beauty products and techniques may have results that vary from person to person. Any use of the information found on this blog is entirely at your own risk.